About Stormwater & Green Infrastructure

Stormwater refers to runoff from land and impervious areas such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops during rainfall and snow events without the benefit of treatment. Stormwater discharges are a concern because they sometimes contain pollutants in quantities that could adversely affect water quality. Many municipalities control stormwater discharges through best management practices which include green infrastructure and low impact development.

Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In Produced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Botanic Garden, this film showcases green techniques that are being used in urban areas to reduce the effects of stormwater runoff on the quality of downstream receiving waters.

EPA Stormwater Case StudiesEPA developed a series of searchable stormwater case studies to help municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) get started on or improve their stormwater management programs.